Decide on a colour scheme

• Before you start
• Build an ideas file
• Decide on a colour scheme
• Minimise stress
• Avoid problems with work
• Get everything in place
• Add these contacts to your ideas file

Many styles work best with a certain palette of colours. For instance, looks with a Mediterranean, Victorian and Moroccan feel call for hot colours, while Shaker, Swedish and Minimalist styles suit neutral shades. So first choose your style, then think about colour. To guide you, there are two decorating principles that can help you choose:

(1) The 70/20/10 rule
Rooms that dazzle with many different colours are usually rather difficult to live with, while completely monotone schemes can be flat and dull. The rule helps you to get the right proportion of colours by having 70% of your room in one colour, e.g. walls and floor; 20% in a second colour, e.g. furniture; and 10% in a third colour, e.g. accessories (2) The Colour Wheel
For all basic colour combining use the Colour Wheel as a guide. The wheel is divided into individual segments of colour, which together represent the full colour spectrum. Colours that are next to each other on the wheel combine well to create a harmonious feel, and opposite colours can be used to create a more dramatic effect. Shades from a single segment used throughout a room will create an attractive toning look.

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